Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. If I did, he would have had a birthday party long ago.
Chapter Eight Nicknames and Mix-Ups
"SURPRISE!!!!!!"
Harry jumped back in shock. He had figured out that his friends were throwing him a surprise party, but not all this!
The Weasley's house was unrecognizable. Gold and silver streamers and decorations draped from all of the walls and ceiling; the house was so clean it seemed to sparkle; more of Fred and George's fireworks were bouncing off the walls; and outside there were a dozen tables in the garden, all of which were decorated with tablecloths and flowers, each with a pixie-filled lantern hovering above it. There was also a small stage outside, with a grassy space in front of it meant for dancing. On the stage, there were four witches in torn robes, setting up instruments. Harry recognized them to be the Weird Sisters.
But what shocked Harry the most was the fifty or so people that stood in front of him, each with a huge smile on their face as they shouted greetings to him. He recognized some of the people who were standing in the front of the crowd: Neville, Seamus, and Dean, Firenze the centaur, Hagrid and Madame Maxime (who were distinguishable even though they were at the back of the crowd), all of the Weasleys (minus Bill, who had yet to arrive, and Percy), the Patil twins, Lavender Brown, and what looked to be everyone from the D.A. (excluding Cho, Michael Corner and his friends, Marietta Edgecombe and Zacharias Smith) and a few people that Harry had met from the Order (Tonk's lime green hair stood out in the crowd).
Harry was at a loss for words. No one had ever taken so much trouble just to make him happy. "I don't know what to say!" He grinned enormously. "Thank you!" Cheers rang out from the crowd of friends, and Hermione gave him a huge hug. She stepped back quickly, glancing at Ron. Mrs. Weasley came next, engulfing him in an even bigger hug, whispering, "Happy Birthday, dear."
Ginny came toward him next, looking very pretty in stylish Muggle clothes. "Happy Birthday Harry." She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he gingerly put his around her waist. He closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of flowers that was coming from her. Ginny backed away slowly, blushing deeply, due to many catcalls coming from her brothers.
Harry had reddened somewhat as well, and he quickly busied himself by shaking hands with all his male guests, and getting hugs from all of his female ones. He was surprised that so many people had showed up for his party, and that his friends had gone through so much trouble to make him happy.
After he had greeted all his guests, Mrs. Weasley ushered them all to sit down at the beautifully decorated tables in the garden for a light supper. What she called a 'light supper' turned out to be big portions of roasted turkey, chicken, and duck; a huge salad with what looked like frog legs scattered on the top; an enormous mound of mashed potatoes and yams; a large basket of sweet rolls for each table; and a plate of assorted vegetables including green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus.
Harry sat down at a round table with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna and Neville. The Weird Sisters had started to play a relaxing background song to listen to that was barely even heard over the lively chatter. Harry's table was engaged in a discussion of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
"I'm trying out for Chaser," Ginny said.
"And you'll definitely make the team, you're really good!" Neville said, blushing slightly. Harry cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"What positions do we need to fill?" said Ron, thinking out loud. "Two Chasers, now that Angelina and Alicia have graduated, and two Beaters to replace Fred and George."
"Who's going to be trying out?" Harry asked to no one in particular.
"Colin and Dennis Creevey are trying out for Chaser with me, but I don't know how good they are," Ginny said. "And Dean and Seamus are going for Beaters." Ron's ears perked up at hearing Dean's name, which prompted Ginny to reply, "For goodness sake Ron, we're not going out!"
"Anyway, we all know who'll be Captain," Neville said, glancing at Harry.
"Who, me?"
"Of course!" Ron said, slapping him on the back.
"You're the best player in the whole school!" Ginny said, causing him to blush.
"I find the sport of Quidditch to be pointless," Luna said distantly, earning her glares from the whole table. "You know, riding broomsticks for a long period of time, including Quidditch games, may cause you to sprout boils all over your arms." The others looked at her in disbelief, and then continued their conversation.
After all the guests finished their meal, many of them were coming over to Harry, wanting him to open their gifts. He first opened his presents from Hermione (a book about past Gryffindor Seekers) and Ron (a silver snitch that was bewitched to stay within ten yards of the player for him to practice with). Fred and George got him a box filled with fireworks, Mrs. Weasley made him a sweater, and Hagrid made him some treacle tart.
While Harry was opening his presents, Hermione and Ron mysteriously disappeared. Harry was so busy with his other guests, however, that he hardly noticed.
Hermione led Ron down the familiar path into the forest. They could still see the glow of light and hear the sounds coming from the party, but neither of the teenagers paid any attention to anything but each other. When they finally came to the clearing known as 'The Hot Spot', Ron spoke up.
"You know, Hermione, our names still aren't on the tree." He grinned mischievously.
"Well, we'll just have to earn it." She wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled his lips down to meet hers. Hermione sunk into his arms, filled with happiness.
After a few minutes, she finally came up for air and said, "Okay."
"'Okay' what?" Ron said playfully. "Is that my grade for this snogging session, or—"
"Okay," Hermione repeated, smiling. "We're worthy of the tree." Ron grinned widely, and kissed her swiftly on the lips. Then he pulled a penknife and began to work.
"You were completely prepared for this weren't you?!" Hermione said. "You knew I was going to give in and make it official!"
Ron gave her a lopsided grin. "Yes, 'Mione, I know you oh-so-well." He finished carving the 'R' into the tree. "You know, maybe I should think of a nickname for you." He completed the 'O'. "I dunno, how about 'Hermy', or 'Hermykins'?" She pushed him playfully in the shoulder, knowing that he was kidding. "Or MiMi? Or HermHerm?" She grimaced. "Or how about just 'Mione'? I call you that already." He finished his own name.
"'Mione is fine," Hermione said.
"'Mione it is," Ron said. He completed the carving, ('RonMione') and sealed it with a kiss. (He kissed Hermione, not the tree.)
"So what do you think is in store for us?" Hermione said casually as she and Ron got comfortable in the hammock.
"What d'you mean?"
"Us. You and me. And everyone I suppose."
"Well, we'll go back to school. Everyone there will look at Harry differently, that's for sure. And there'll be plenty of broom cupboards and empty classrooms for us to make use of." He grinned mischievously.
Hermione snuggled closer to him and sighed. They swung on the hammock in each other's arms before she said softly, "We should probably be getting back."
"Yeah, I suppose another couple at the party will want to use this spot," Ron said.
"Couple?" Hermione said, suddenly very tense.
"Yeah, you know, a boyfriend and girlfriend," Ron said.
"Boyfriend and girlfriend…." Hermione whispered. Then she got off of the hammock and said, "I didn't know that we were boyfriend and girlfriend."
"Oh, sorry, is it just a snog here and there?"
"No, it's just that…. I've never really had a boyfriend before. I don't count Viktor as one, we're just pen pals." She wrung her hands. "I just wanted you to ask me properly, that's all."
"Oh," Ron said, obviously confused.
"Call me old-fashioned, but I just want my first boyfriend to be special. Not that you aren't, of course, I just want you to respect me."
"Of course I respect you Hermione. I lo—like you a lot." He opened his mouth to ask her, and she cut him off.
"Don't ask now, the moment's ruined. Let's just go back to the party." She started off down the trail, and Ron was right behind her. When they came to the edge of the woods, Hermione stopped. "I'll go to the party first, and you can follow behind me in a few minutes. I'm going to the bathroom, I need to freshen up." She straightened her skirt and tried to flatten her mussed hair as she walked back toward the floating lights and sounds of voices that was the party. Ron sighed, and went behind her several minutes later.
"Ok, ok. Now do the pig nose!" Ginny squealed with laughter as Tonks changed her features on command. A small crowd of people had gathered around her to watch.
"Can you make yourself look like actual people?" Dennis Creevey asked in his high-pitched voice.
"You mean do impressions?" Tonks said. "Yeah, I can. But only if I know the person well enough to remember what they look like. Watch." Tonks scrunched her face up in pain as she transformed herself to look like Umbridge.
"Hey, Harry! Look! It's Professor Bumbridge!" Dennis shouted across the garden. Harry only glanced at Dennis to see what he was on about, and then rolled his eyes and got back to his conversation with Lupin.
"So Dumbledore says we can keep the D.A.?" Harry asked Lupin.
"Yes, but this year it won't be a secret, and it'll be open to anyone who wants," he replied. "And the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will help you."
"I wish you could be our teacher. Everyone says you were their favorite," Harry said.
"Harry, you know I can't. The parents have a right to want to protect their children from werewolves. I can't risk it." Lupin sighed, looking wearier than ever. They sat there in quietly until—
"Harry!" Ron ran up to him, panting as if he had been running.
"Hey Ron, where have you been?" Harry said.
"Never mind that!" Ron looked around the backyard. "Where's Hermione?"
Harry scanned the crowds of guests. "There she is." He pointed to a very triumphant-looking Hermione standing in the middle of the crowd with Ginny.
Ron ran over to the middle of the crowd. "Hermione!" He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to a more private spot by a bench. "Look, I know what you said before. But I don't care. I like you, and I think I might even be falling in love with you. I don't care who knows it. All I care about is you. And I want you to be my girlfriend." Ron finally stopped to breathe. Hermione just looked up at him, her eyes wide. Then she finally spoke.
"I'm not Hermione." Tonks transformed back into her usual self, green hair and all. Ron gasped.